News

Acclaimed conductor Carl St. Clair of Orange County's Pacific Symphony to
guest conduct and hold master classes at the School of Music next week

The 2014 Sixth Ithaca International Conducting Master Class, run jointly by conductors Jeffery Meyer (Ithaca College) and Chris Younghoon Kim (Cornell University) will feature Carl St. Clair, Music Director of the Pacific Symphony in Orange County, California. The masterclass is comprised of five days of classes, rehearsals and discussions culminating in a final concert conducted by the eight masterclass participants.

Young conductors participating in the class will come from across the nation to work with Mr. St. Clair and the Ithaca and Cornell Orchestras. The final concert will feature Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony in B minor, Op. 74 (‘Pathetique’). Mr. St. Clair will also conduct works of Mozart and Beethoven in Concert with the Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra.

In 2013-14, Carl St. Clair celebrates his 24th season as Music Director of the Pacific Symphony and the orchestra’s milestone 35th anniversary. During his tenure, St. Clair has become widely recognized for his musically distinguished performances, his commitment to building outstanding educational programs and his innovative approaches to programming. And in 2013-14, under his leadership, the Symphony launched the new music festival, Wavelength, blending contemporary music and Symphony musicians in unique collaborations.

In 2014, St. Clair assumes the position as music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Costa Rica. His international career also has him conducting abroad several months a year, and he has appeared with orchestras throughout the world. He was the principal guest conductor of the Radio Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart from 1998 to 2004, where he completed a three–year recording project of the Villa–Lobos symphonies. He has also appeared with orchestras in Israel, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South America, and summer festivals worldwide.

In North America, St. Clair has led the Boston Symphony Orchestra (where he served as assistant conductor for several years), New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and the San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver symphonies, among many others.